The BMW roadster.  Always regarded as a pioneer, but easily overtaken by its competitors.  Whether it's because BMW sets the goal post too low, or because it gives its rivals ample time to tweak their challengers, we'll never truly know. However, like any good pioneer, BMW has to keep on pushing the envelope further to keep itself ahead in this fickle two-door, two-seater convertible market.

In the company of cars such as the Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK and even the Honda S2000 and the Nissan 350Z, the BMW Z4 has always been hit for its lack of power, stiff ride and controversial styling. In the slew of criticism, BMW has taken a while but finally put their roadster back onto rich men's radars with the 2006 incarnation. The most obvious change, of course, is the styling. The flames and concave surfaces are still there, but minor re-touches were made to clean up the lines. For instance, the front air intake has been widened and reshaped into a more conventional rectangular shape. The lights are now monotone, in contrast to the white/yellow combination from the previous Z4. The front fog lamps have been moved upward as well, flushing itself with the license plate cutout. The trademark kidney grille has also been revised, now being closer to the bodywork than the original. Each of the vertical chrome strands are unique--echoing the car's contrasting swirled surfaces. The rear area of the Z4 has been redesigned as well taking into consideration better airflow. The rear also features a built-in lip spoiler for high-speed stability and the rear lamp clusters have been cleaned-up to merge well with the rear wheel arch lines.

Like any enthusiast car, BMW made the biggest changes underneath the hood. Now available in the Philippines is a 3.0-liter inline-6 (winner of various awards such as the International Engine of the Year award). This engine, powering the Z4 3.0si, produces a healthy 265 horsepower and 315 Nm of torque. Shouldering on is the same 2.5-liter inline-6 (2.5i) as the previous Z4 put re-tuned to deliver a flatter torque curve and better fuel mileage although torque and power figures remain as before (230 Nm and 177 horsepower respectively). Both engines are mated to 6-speed automatics (finally), with the 3.0si getting paddle shifters (the first for BMW).

Suspension tweaks have also been done on the Z4 to further improve both ride and handling.  The perfect 50/50 weight distribution has been kept along with the same all-around independent suspension set-up. However, the Z4 now rides on standard run-flat tires (17 inches on the 3.0si and 16 inches on the 2.5i). Keeping the low-slung roadster pointed in the proper direction is the latest generation of BMW's DSC or Dynamic Stability Control. Now in its third generation, the DSC monitors the car's throttle, brake and body behavior and uses its electronic brain in order to compensate for life-threatening maneuvers.  According to BMW, the new DSC system will not hamper spirited driving, as the system only activates at the worse of driving conditions and impending accidents. Standard across the Z4 range is CBC (Corner Brake Control--BMW's own version of Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and DTC or Dynamic Traction Control.

First introduced and now tweaked further on the Z4 is the EPS or Electric Power Steering system. This electric motor driven system should allow for optimal balance between steering damping effect and feedback. It also allows for faster steering responses (i.e. returning the wheel to the center position after a tight turn) than a conventional system. If the car is ordered with DDC or Direct Drive Control, it will also allow for lesser steering assistance for a sportier feeling on the road.

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